U-High Online Database & Catalog Instruction Guide

University High School and Milner Library offer a huge variety of online resources for student use. Online databases are often your best resource for information for research projects.

Why use a database instead of Google?

• Databases are reliable. They are an online collection of professional print resources. If a source has a print version, usually that means its author is a professional or an expert in the field, and that it has been edited and checked for accuracy.
• There is no editor on the Internet. No one is checking facts, and information you find on the Internet isn't always true or accurate.
• Databases provide you with access to the same professional journals and publications used by experts in a field. If you want to do your best research, you need to be using the best resources. Experts don’t rely on Google for their information.

Things to Keep in Mind When Using a Database

• Different databases contain different types of information. Read decriptions to ensure the database you're using fits your assignment best.
• Look to see if your database has an advanced search function. If it does, you can use the advance search to refine your results to make sure you're getting the most releveant resources
• Figure out if the database you're using is full text or if it provides only citation information. Full text means you can get the article right now on your screen; citation only means you'll have to go to Milner and photocopy the print article.
• Keep in mind that some databases might contain pictures, video clips and other non-print resources.

Choosing your Keywords

How successful you are at finding your information depends on your choice of keywords or search terms. It's unlikely there is no information in any database on your topic, so if you're not getting any results, you might be using the wrong keywords.

• Check your spelling. While capitalization doesn't matter, spelling does.
• Use synonyms. If the first terms you try don't produce results, try to think of other words for your topic. Try to come up with a list of possible keywords before you begin searching.
• Use your keyword choice to help control the number of results you get. Basic keywords will ususally produce a large number of results - sometimes too many, and sometimes not what you need. To narrow your results and to retrieve more relevant results, try more specific keywords or more complex combinations of keywords. If your database has one, use the advanced search function to help.

Milner Databases
Academic Search Premier
America: History and Life
Humanities Abstracts
JSTOR
Mas Ultra Student Edition
Periodical Abstracts
Project MUSE
Reader's Guide Abstracts
Wilson Select Plus

U-High Databases
American National Biography
Encyclopedia Britannica

Return to U-High Library Webpage:
http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/library/library.htm

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